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Notice of Company Applying to Become a Utah Certified Reinsurer

April 14, 2021 — Chubb European Group SE, an insurance company from France, has applied to become a Certified Reinsurer in the State of Utah. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jay Sueoka with the Utah Insurance Department at (801) 957-9253 or by email at jsueoka@utah.gov no later than May 25, 2021.

Utah PMN Posting

2021 Special Enrollment Period in Response to the COVID-19 Emergency

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has announced a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and families to shop for Marketplace coverage in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. This SEP will allow individuals and families in states with Marketplaces served by the HealthCare.gov platform to enroll in 2021 health insurance coverage.

Beginning February 15, 2021 and running through May 15, 2021, the Marketplace will be open to make this SEP available to all Marketplace-eligible consumers who are submitting a new application or updating an existing application.

Visit HealthCare.gov to enroll in coverage starting Feb. 15, 2021.

Notice of University of Utah Health Insurance Plans’ Proposed Acquisition of Control of Steward Health Choice Utah, Inc.

Public Comment Notice

Please take notice that the Interim Commissioner of the Utah Insurance Department has received an application from the University of Utah Health Insurance Plans (“UHIP”) to acquire control of Steward Health Choice Utah, Inc. (“Health Choice Utah”), a health maintenance organization domiciled in the State of Utah. UHIP is a Utah nonprofit corporation controlled by the University of Utah. The acquisition of control will be accomplished pursuant to an Equity Purchase Agreement dated September 25, 2020, whereby UHIP would acquire from IASIS Healthcare LLC 100% of the outstanding capital stock of Health Choice Utah.

Pursuant to Utah Insurance Code § 31A-16-103, notice is hereby given by the Interim Commissioner of the Utah Insurance Department regarding the acquisition of control of a Utah domestic insurer or health maintenance organization. The public and all policyholders, enrollees, providers and other affected persons are hereby provided the opportunity to provide public comments. Comments must be provided no later than December 29, 2020. The Utah Interim Insurance Commissioner, or her designee, will consider the following factors in evaluating the proposed transaction:

Whether, after the acquisition of control, Health Choice Utah would not be able to satisfy the requirements for the issuance of a license to write the line or lines of insurance for which it is presently licensed;
Whether the effect of the acquisition of control would substantially lessen competition in insurance in Utah or tend to create a monopoly in insurance;
Whether the financial condition of UHIP would jeopardize the financial stability of Health Choice Utah or prejudice the interest of its policyholders or any remaining securityholders who are unaffiliated with UHIP;
Whether the terms of the acquisition are unfair and unreasonable to the securityholders of Health Choice Utah;
Whether the plans or proposals UHIP (if any) has to liquidate Health Choice Utah, sell its assets, or consolidate or merge it with any person, or to make any other material change in its business or corporate structure or management, are unfair and unreasonable to the policyholders of Health Choice Utah and are not in the public interest; and
Whether the competence, experience and integrity of those persons who would control the operation of Health Choice Utah are such that it would not be in the interest of the policyholders of Health Choice Utah and the public to permit the merger or other acquisition of control.
See Utah Ins. Code § 31A-16-103(8).

ANY ENROLLEE, PROVIDER OR OTHER AFFECTED PERSON MAY SUBMIT COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION AND MAY RECEIVE A SUMMARY OF THE UHIP APPLICATION OR OTHER NON-CONFIDENTIAL MATERIALS ON FILE WITH THE COMMISSIONER BY SENDING A REQUEST IN WRITING AND A COPYING FEE OF $.25/PAGE TO:

University of Utah
Office of the General Counsel
201 S. Presidents Circle, Rm 309
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
Attention: Brian Watts
(801) 585-7002
brian.watts@legal.utah.edu

ALTERNATIVELY, ARRANGEMENTS TO REVIEW A COPY OF THE NON- CONFIDENTIAL FORM A APPLICATION MATERIALS MAY BE MADE BY CONTACTING STACY ZHANG, (801) 538-3832 OR SZHANG@UTAH.GOV.

IF YOU WISH TO SUBMIT COMMENTS REGARDING THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR COMMENTS TO THE INTERIM COMMISSIONER IN WRITING, AT JILLWHITE@UTAH.GOV, NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 29, 2020.

Dated this 18th day of December, 2020

Tanji Northrup
Interim Commissioner of the Utah Insurance Department

 

RELATED
PDF Version
Utah PMN Posting
Commissioner’s Order

Fraud Awareness: 5 Ways to Stay Safe

Stay alert to insurance scams year-round. Get the most out of your insurance policies. Be safe, know the warning signs — and report scams.

Home Repairs — Avoid storm chasers who knock on your door for repair work after storms.

Bandit Towing — Never deal with a random tow truck that just shows up at the crash scene.

Staged Crashes — Drive safely. Watch for cars that suddenly pull in front of yours.

Medicare Alert — Hang up on callers demanding your personal info to “update” your Medicare account.

Telemedicine — Ignore pitches for “free” video health exams & back braces requiring your personal info.

If you suspect an insurance scheme, report it safely, easily, and anonymously at https://insurance.utah.gov/consumer/fraud/report-fraud.

5 Ways to Stay Safe

Notice of Company Applying to Become a Utah Certified Reinsurer

November 13, 2020 — Endurance Specialty Insurance Ltd. (AA-3194130) a Bermuda insurance company, has applied to become a Certified Reinsurer in the State of Utah. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Jay Sueoka with the Utah Insurance Department at 801-538-3814 or by email at jsueoka@utah.gov no later than December 29, 2020.

Utah PMN Posting

As Millennials Approach 40, Life Insurance Should Be On The Agenda — But Many Aren’t Prepared

Understanding a beneficiary’s responsibility is part of any preparation checklist.

Today’s millennials (24–39 years old) are getting older, and along with an impending milestone birthday as the first in the generation turns 40, they’re also more likely to be the owners and beneficiaries of life insurance policies. Along with new life insurance policies come responsibilities to share and be aware of key information that will ensure that benefits get paid when needed.

There is a clear need for better communication about life insurance policies across all generations, according to a new survey by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). When the beneficiary is younger and potentially newer to the experience, the issue is even more significant. Overall, 55% of millennials surveyed said they are listed as a beneficiary on a friend’s or relative’s life insurance policy, yet only 30% said they are prepared for that role.

Lack of preparation — i.e., sharing and being aware of basic information about policies — leads to millions of dollars in unclaimed benefits each year by beneficiaries who can’t find or don’t know about loved ones’ policies.

“Millennials are entering the stage of life where life insurance policies may, unfortunately, be paid and it’s important for them to know how that process works,” said Utah Insurance Commissioner Todd E. Kiser. “Many are, or should be, thinking about how to provide for their loved ones in the future. A life insurance policy often offers a better benefit when it is purchased earlier rather than later.”

Beneficiaries Should Know Policy Basics

Millennials, who have grown up with cell phones and social media, recognize the power of communication and transparency. That’s good news for buyers and their beneficiaries, who need to significantly improve their game when it comes to sharing and being aware of information about life insurance policies. According to the survey, only 29% of millennial beneficiaries say they know where the policy is kept, 30% know the name of the insurance carrier, and 26% know the benefit amount.

Whether the owner of the policy or the beneficiary, it can be helpful to consider the information as part of a three-part checklist that includes knowing the answers to:

  1. Who is the carrier?
  2. What is the benefit amount?
  3. Where is the policy stored?

To help consumers who do not have all the information that they need, the NAIC maintains a Life Insurance Policy Locator (LIPL) tool. The LIPL has helped consumers claim more than $650 million in benefits since its introduction in 2016. It’s free to use and available online, eliminating the need to contact multiple companies or agents to find a policy or identify whether there is a policy.

Survey Methodology

The NAIC surveyed more than 1,000 consumers online using SurveyMonkey between Jan. 2–13, 2020. Respondents included approximately equal numbers of Generation Z (18–23 years old), millennials (24–39 years old) and baby boomers (56–74 years old).

Press Release
As Millennials Approach 40, Life Insurance Should Be On The Agenda — But Many Aren’t Prepared

Magna Earthquake Individual Assistance from FEMA available for residents of Davis and Salt Lake Counties

*This is a joint news release by the Utah Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency*

Salt Lake and Davis County Residents with March Earthquake Losses Can Register with FEMA

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah homeowners and renters in Salt Lake and Davis counties who had uninsured losses from the March 18 earthquake may be eligible for federal disaster assistance from FEMA.

FEMA has programs that provide financial help with temporary housing expenses, basic home repairs and other essential disaster-related needs.

First, if you haven’t already done so, contact your insurance company and file a claim for the disaster-caused damage. You don’t have to wait to start cleaning up, but be sure to take photographs or video of the damage and keep all receipts for repair work.

If you still have uninsured or underinsured losses, register with FEMA. Registration is free and doesn’t take long. You can register in several ways:

  • Visit DisasterAssistance.gov and click on “Apply Online”
  • Download the FEMA App for smartphones
  • Call 800-621-3362 (800-462-7585 TTY). Multilingual operators are available. The toll-free numbers are open every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. MDT.
  • Information about how to apply for low-interest SBA loans for businesses and residents is available online at www.SBA.gov/disaster. You may also call 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. TTY users may call 800-877-8339.

SBA offers federal low-interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, most private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters.

It is helpful to have the following information available when you register:

  • Address of the dwelling/structure where the damage occurred (pre-disaster address)
  • Current mailing address
  • Current telephone number
  • Insurance information
  • Total household annual income
  • Routing and account number for checking or savings account (this allows FEMA to directly transfer disaster assistance funds into a bank account)
  • A description of disaster-caused damage and losses

In conjunction with the Utah Division of Emergency Management, and in consideration of the pandemic, FEMA personnel will work remotely from alternative workspaces until further notice. Health and safety are the highest priorities—for Utahns and for FEMA personnel assisting recovery.

If you reported that you may not be able to live safely in your home, it may be necessary for FEMA to perform an inspection of the damaged dwelling. Because of the pandemic, FEMA field inspection will usually be conducted remotely.

For remote inspections, FEMA inspectors will contact applicants by phone to answer questions about the type and extent of damage sustained. Remote inspections provide a new way of evaluating damage, comparable to traditional, in-person inspections, and this expedites the delivery of recovery assistance.

Survivors with minimal damage who can live in their homes will not automatically be scheduled for a home inspection when applying to FEMA. However, they may request an inspection if significant disaster-caused damage is discovered later.

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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.

For further media inquiries, contact DEM Interim PIO, Wade Mathews at wmathews@utah.gov or DPS PIO, Joe Dougherty at jdougherty@utah.gov.

Download the news release here.

Remote Testing Now Available for Utah Licensees

Prometric is now offering a remote testing and proctoring tool for insurance licensees in Utah. Licensees can now take their license examinations at a Prometric test center or online using the ProProctor tool.

The system uses advanced AI and live proctoring staff to ensure testing is fair, reliable, and accurate. More information is available on Prometric’s website.

Fingerprinting must still be done in person at a Prometric testing site.

Order 2020-3: Amended Order Eliminating Application Process for Issuing a Temporary Resident Individual Producer License

The Utah Insurance Commissioner finds as follows:

1. The Utah Insurance Commissioner entered the Order Establishing Standards for Obtaining and a Process for Issuing a Temporary Resident Individual Producer License dated April 21, 2020.
2. On June 1, 2020, the Utah Insurance Department’s license testing vendor, Prometric, will open its facilities in Utah for the purpose of testing and taking fingerprints of candidates for a Utah two-year resident individual producer license.
3. With the opening of Prometric’s facilities, there is no longer a need for a temporary resident individual producer license in Utah.

Based on the above findings, and pursuant to Utah Code §§ 31A-2-201(4) and 31A-23a-114(5), the Commissioner enters the following Order:

1. Effective June 15, 2020, the Insurance Department will not accept an application for a temporary resident individual producer license.
2. Effective June 1, 2020, the Insurance Department will accept an application for a two-year resident individual producer license. The application shall be submitted electronically using SIRCON or NIPR.
3. An application for a temporary resident individual producer license that is pending on June 15, 2020 will be processed in the ordinary course of business unless withdrawn.
4. A current temporary license is valid for 180 days from date of issuance.
5. A current temporary license will be inactivated if its holder obtains a two-year resident individual producer license before the end of the temporary license period.
6. A temporary license holder is subject to the conditions and requirements of the Order Establishing Standards for Obtaining and a Process for Issuing a Temporary Resident Individual Producer License dated April 21, 2020.

Dated: May 27, 2020

/s/ Todd E. Kiser
Utah Insurance Commissioner

PDF Version
Order of the Commissioner 2020-3: Amended Order Eliminating Application Process for Issuing a Temporary Resident Individual Producer License

Don’t Stimulate Fraud

Economic stimulus payments arriving now from the federal government are an enticing target for scammers. They have many too-good-to-be-true methods for taking your money:

  • Stimulus payment scams — Fake phone calls and phishing schemes try to get your stimulus cash. The IRS won’t phone, text, or email you about your payment and won’t require a fee to get it.
  • Contractor scams — Con artists may try to persuade you to sign over your stimulus payment or charge your insurance for poor home improvement work or damage repair.
  • Fake insurance protections — Scammers are offering low-priced “corona insurance” to cover COVID-19 treatment. Just hang up.
  • Trip cancellation insurance — Standard travel insurance may not cover pandemics. Be wary of offers that cover COVID-19 related trip cancellations.

If you suspect an insurance scheme, report it safely, easily, and anonymously at https://insurance.utah.gov/consumer/fraud/report-fraud.

Don’t Stimulate Fraud